SUNDERLAND — Voters who visit the polls at Sunderland Elementary School today will decide whether to approve a ballot question.
The question asks if Sunderland will be allowed by voters to assess an additional $200,000 in real estate and personal property taxes via a Proposition 2½ override to fund the operating budgets of the town and its public school for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Proposition 2½ is a state statute that requires special voter approval if a municipality’s tax revenue increases more than 2½ percent from the prior year.
Selectboard Chairman Tom Fydenkevez explained the override is necessary due to a revenue shift for Sunderland Elementary School. He said expenses are not up more than 2½ percent, but revenues streams (such as school choice) are down due to decreased enrollment. He called it “a revenue shortfall” and said he believes voters will understand the need for the override.
“I would hope that people would have an opportunity to look at the budget and know it’s not an expenditure thing, it’s a revenue thing,” Fydenkevez said.
Voters approved an $8,564,902 budget at Town Meeting on April 26, though that vote is contingent upon an override.
There are no contested races in the election, set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Note:A brief in Friday’s edition listed the wrong day for the election.